For thought and meditation

[rl69]

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.—Philippians 2:12–13 (http://harvest.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4f108f827aed8d503b5fca9fa&id=07d22e4616&e=3dd732485b)Have you ever wondered why some people make an alleged commitment to Christ and are transformed seemingly overnight? They go out and buy the biggest Bible they can find and start carrying it around. They show up at every service at church. They sing louder and lift their hands higher in worship than everyone. They talk to everyone they know about Jesus.

Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, they appear to have simply given up. Why does that happen?

God has saved us, but then we have our part. Philippians 2:12 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/x-apple-data-detectors://2) tells us, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." This verse is often misunderstood. Notice it doesn't say, "Work for your own salvation." We can't work for it; it is a gift of God. Rather, this verse says, "Work out your own salvation" (emphasis added). The term work out could be better translated, "Carry it to the goal and complete. . . ." The idea being conveyed is that of going into a mine for gold. You get all the gold out of the mine that you can.

Verse 13 of Philippians 2 goes on to say, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." It is all there: human responsibility and divine sovereignty. We are to carry it to the goal and complete it, but it's God who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

There is our part and there is God's part. What we need every day is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. God wants to fill us again and again with the Holy Spirit, because the only way we can make it as Christians is with the daily help of the Holy Spirit.

[Blackwater]

What a wonderful post! And SO spot on in so many cases! People today seem to think everything comes all wrapped up in a neat package, ready to serve. Christianity has never been quite like that. Yes, it's easy at first, but that's the foundation upon which we build. As you observe, for many, it's as if they poured a good, concrete foundation, and then, simply didn't build a good, solid house on it. And we've all seen people do just as you outline. If there's no house built on the foundation, it can't be very satisfying, and .... they just as you say, find its lacking suddenly unsatisfying, and not being conditioned to think of building on the foundation, they often don't seem to even notice the missing "house." This is one reason why new Christians need a sort of mentor who is close to them and can keep them growing until they learn the basics of how to build that house on top of the foundation.

Add in the fact that the Bible can be read and interpreted willfully at first, and you've got a kind of "trap" for some new Christians who don't have a mentor and/or some good reading to keep them on the "narrow path." Christianity is the greatest gift mankind has ever been given and could ever be given. But it does take work on our part to make it work properly, just like everything else in the universe.

Thanks, RL. What a great and appropriate way to start the day!

[Pine Baron]

Thanks rl. Interesting observation and interpretation. something to ponder for sure.

[claude]

Complementary scriptures;

Mat 13:19-23 KJV When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (20) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

A different view from Luke;

Luk 8:5-8 KJV A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. (6) And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. (7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. (8) And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Thanks Ronnie, another nice choice, it seems we do have duties.......

[DerekP Houston]

Complementary scriptures;

Mat 13:19-23 KJV When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. (20) But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (21) Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

A different view from Luke;

Luk 8:5-8 KJV A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. (6) And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. (7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. (8) And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Thanks Ronnie, another nice choice, it seems we do have duties.......

Missed this one this morning, thanks for the post. Tagging for future reading.

[Boaz]

Thank you for this one rl69 . I can use it .